Twelve Marks of a Slave

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

What does it mean to live as a servant of God? The Greek word for a servant is a δουλος (doulos), which refers to a slave, someone under involuntary servitude. Roman slavery does not correspond exactly to American chattel slavery of the 19th century (the kind of slavery that we often think of), though there were some similarities. Studying the concept of a ‘slave’ in the New Testament, I came across the following principles that should describe how we are to live as the ‘servants of God.’

#1 – The distinguishing mark of a slave is obedience to his master:

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19)

#2 – A slave is under the absolute authority of his master:

“For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9)

#3 – A slave endures the sufferings and reproach of his master:

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matthew 10:24-25)

“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” (John 15:20)

#4 – The office of slave is a required position for anyone who wishes to advance in Christ’s kingdom:

“And whoever would be first among you must be your slave.” (Matthew 20:27)

#5 – A slave endures danger, and is willing to sacrifice his life, in order to serve his master:

“When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.” (Matthew 21:34-36)

#6 – A slave fulfills his duty in expectation of his master’s arrival:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes…But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’…the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know” (Matthew 24:45, 46, 48, 50)

#7 – A slave is faithful in whatever task he is given, no matter how small:

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21)

#8 – A slave stays alert to his duties:

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37)

#9 – A slave recognizes that obedience is his required duty, deserving of no thanks:

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)

#10 – A slave lives only for the approval of his master:

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

#11 – A slave serves sincerely with fear and trembling:

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ.” (Ephesians 6:5)

#12 – A slave recognizes that his calling is lowly:

“But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7)

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